Presidential Cabinet Secretary. He served as United States Secretary of Defense in President Lyndon B. Johnson's Administration. He served in the United States Navy during World War II, achieving the rank Captain. He served as a special adviser to President Harry S Truman, where he was influential in foreign policy, defense, and labor matters, helped to formulate the Truman Doctrine (1947) and the legislation that created the Department of Defense. He also planned Truman's successful 1948 campaign strategy. He returned to the White House after the Bay of Pigs debacle in Cuba, and served as a foreign policy adviser to President John F. Kennedy. He suggested that President Kennedy create an independent presidential board to oversee the intelligence community and then became chairman of the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. In this capacity he supervised all United States espionage operations and played a crucial role in determining United States policy in Vietnam. As Secretary of Defense (1968 to 1969) in Lyndon B. Johnson's cabinet, he came to oppose further American participation in the Vietnam War, concluding that it was not winnable. He began the search for peace in Vietnam. President Johnson awarded him a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969. In 1982 he became chairman of First American Bankshares, which was secretly and illegally owned by the foreign Bank of Credit and Commerce International. In 1992 he was indicted on charges stemming from BCCI's secret ownership of First American, but the charges were dismissed because of his poor health.
Presidential Cabinet Secretary. He served as United States Secretary of Defense in President Lyndon B. Johnson's Administration. He served in the United States Navy during World War II, achieving the rank Captain. He served as a special adviser to President Harry S Truman, where he was influential in foreign policy, defense, and labor matters, helped to formulate the Truman Doctrine (1947) and the legislation that created the Department of Defense. He also planned Truman's successful 1948 campaign strategy. He returned to the White House after the Bay of Pigs debacle in Cuba, and served as a foreign policy adviser to President John F. Kennedy. He suggested that President Kennedy create an independent presidential board to oversee the intelligence community and then became chairman of the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. In this capacity he supervised all United States espionage operations and played a crucial role in determining United States policy in Vietnam. As Secretary of Defense (1968 to 1969) in Lyndon B. Johnson's cabinet, he came to oppose further American participation in the Vietnam War, concluding that it was not winnable. He began the search for peace in Vietnam. President Johnson awarded him a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969. In 1982 he became chairman of First American Bankshares, which was secretly and illegally owned by the foreign Bank of Credit and Commerce International. In 1992 he was indicted on charges stemming from BCCI's secret ownership of First American, but the charges were dismissed because of his poor health.
Bio by: Eamonn
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